Chapter 105: Pan-Fried Shepherd’s Purse Dumplings p2
Foodie Ji Junxin surrendered.
Having surrendered, she naturally couldn’t leave. After lunch came dinner, and after dinner came late-night snacks…
After the snacks, it was finally time to leave.
“Not staying over?” Mi’s mother looked disappointed. “Stay, we’ll have porridge tomorrow morning, and I’ll buy some pastries. There’s a shop nearby that sells delicious, crispy flatbreads, with shredded radish filling, pickled mustard greens filling, preserved greens filling, and…”
“Mom… Ji Junxin hasn’t been home in a long time either.” Mi Hongdou had to interrupt. She had just wanted to bring Ji Junxin back to Jiang City, and now her mother was trying to keep her overnight. Although her mother’s hospitality was commendable, she only had one bed! Sleeping with Ji Junxin, would she go crazy! And… Ji Junxin also had parents! And Mom, your daughter is right here, did you even look at her today? Did you mistake someone else for your daughter?
Mi Hongdou’s words interrupted Mi’s mother’s menu recital and also Ji Junxin’s wavering resolve.
So, despite Mi’s mother’s reluctance, Ji Junxin left.
Mi’s mother, unhappy, went upstairs and pointed at the kitchen. “Go wash the dishes.”
“I’ll do them tomorrow…” Mi Hongdou, also full, collapsed onto the sofa.
“Wash them now, the oil will congeal overnight.”
Mi Hongdou was heartbroken. “Mom, I haven’t been home in months, can’t I rest for a day before washing dishes?”
Mi’s mother snorted. “I haven’t asked you to wash dishes in months, what’s the big deal?”
“…Nothing.” Mi Hongdou resignedly got up. “Anyone would think Ji Junxin is your daughter.”
This comment hit a nerve. “Hmph, if it weren’t for you telling her to go home, we could have had breakfast together tomorrow.” She snorted again. “You sent her away, how else can I vent my frustration but by making you wash the dishes?”
So that was the reason… Mi Hongdou was stunned. “She has her own parents! It’s just a two-day break, how can she stay here the whole time? We have to go back to Shudian tomorrow afternoon!”
Mi’s mother paused. “Are you going together tomorrow? Is she coming?”
“Mom!” Mi Hongdou raised her voice. “Even if you’re Ji Junxin’s fan, can you please restrain yourself? You’ll scare her!”
Mi’s mother was taken aback, then retorted, “Who said I’m her fan! I just think she’s a beautiful, adorable, and talented young lady… unlike you, hmph!”
Mi Hongdou, having revealed her own secret, was about to regret it when she was attacked, so she retorted, “Aren’t you? Where’s that autographed poster you got for Old Wang or Old Li’s daughter? Did you give it away?”
“You…” The hidden fan, exposed and embarrassed, said angrily, “Hmph! I am a fan, so what! I don’t have to explain myself to you! You’re so unlovable! Why weren’t you born a boy? Then I could at least hope for you to bring her home as my daughter-in-law! Hmph!” She stormed off to her room.
Although they depended on each other, Mi Hongdou and her mother weren’t particularly close. They rarely had such long, heartfelt conversations. Usually, Mi’s mother watched TV in the living room, while Mi Hongdou stayed in her room. It had been a long time since Mi Hongdou had seen her mother so happy.
Mi Hongdou stood there for a long time, then whispered, “Yes, why wasn’t I born a boy?” Then she could openly pursue Ji Junxin. But she still preferred being a woman. It was difficult…
It wasn’t just Mi Hongdou who found things difficult. Ji Junxin, in the chauffeured car, after much hesitation, called her parents. It was late, and they were both home. But before she could say much, her father brought up the blind date again. So Ji Junxin, having just experienced Mi’s mother’s warmth and missing her own parents, chatted with them for a bit, then decided to return to her own apartment.
After getting out of the car, she was alone again. Although it was March, and the coldest part of winter was over, standing in the wind, she felt even colder than during the estate scenes.
Her apartment, empty for three months, was still relatively clean. Just changing the bedsheets, dusting, and mopping, and it would be livable. As she worked, Ji Junxin was glad that she had emptied the refrigerator and removed the fruits before leaving, otherwise, the place would be uninhabitable.
The one-bedroom apartment was quick to clean. But after showering and settling in bed, Ji Junxin felt the usually cozy apartment strangely cold and empty.
She had become used to Mi Hongdou’s presence.
Ji Junxin sighed and closed her eyes, trying to sleep.
But she felt cold, lonely, and a little scared… Unable to sleep, she sat up and turned on the light.
No warm hot water bottle…
If she had stayed at Mi Hongdou’s place, she wouldn’t be so miserable… and there would be delicious porridge and flatbreads for breakfast tomorrow… Mi Hongdou was the worst!
Mi Hongdou, who was being blamed by her mother for washing a mountain of dishes and finally getting to rest very late, had no idea that her one comment had earned her the resentment of two people.
And there were many things she didn’t know, like how, upon returning to Shudian, the new palace scenes wouldn’t be as easy to film as they had imagined.
In the early palace scenes, Empress Qin Muxue and Miao Qianye, after the empress let go of her attachment to the emperor, had developed a sense of camaraderie. This bond deepened during their time at the estate, united in their shared goal of protecting the heir. But upon returning to the palace, things changed.
Emperor Ji Yan had many women, but his true love was still Empress Qin Muxue. Many of the concubines who had been with them at the estate died during their escape. The survivors, returning to the palace with the victorious emperor, were all promoted. But the emperor only spent the night with the Empress, not even with Miao Qianye, who had borne him a son. The promoted concubines were practically widows. Still, life in the palace was better than toiling in the fields. Many accepted their fate. Of course, some still yearned for the emperor’s favor, like Concubine Zhu, played by Jiang Duo. But although he rewarded them, he didn’t favor them. It wasn’t until the Empress persuaded him that he finally visited Miao Qianye, and then, to avoid resentment from the others, he also visited a few other concubines who had been with them at the estate.
The plot itself wasn’t unusual. But Director Pan didn’t understand a note Pan Xiang had added to the script: why, after their escape and reunion with the emperor, was there a subtle awkwardness and distance between the Empress and Miao Qianye? The note even specified that this feeling should persist until the Empress’s death at the end.
Director Pan couldn’t understand. They had developed such a close bond at the estate, practically sisters, why this awkwardness now? Hadn’t the Empress let go of her attachment to the emperor? He felt the note was unnecessary and discussed it with Pan Xiang.
Pan Xiang found it awkward to discuss this kind of plot point with her grandfather, but she explained it nonetheless.
At the estate, without the emperor, they had shared goals and values, and the hardship had strengthened their bond. But now, back in the palace, their positions were different, they were sharing a man. One favored, the other not, it was awkward. And the favored one persuading the emperor to also favor the other, even more awkward. And not just awkward, but also… unhappy. They had gained the emperor, but lost the intimacy and mutual support they had shared at the estate.
Pan Xiang’s explanation made Director Pan understand. He even found it brilliant. If Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin could portray this awkwardness and conflict, these scenes would be very compelling. He felt a slight unease, something still felt off, but excited by the new plot development, he ignored it.
Since the estate scenes, although there were occasional disagreements between them, Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin’s relationship had deepened, which was why their performances during that arc had been so smooth. Now, back in the palace, having to act with a subtle awkwardness in their scenes together, even in group scenes, was a challenge.
When facing difficulties in acting, there were two common methods: immersion and empathy.
Immersion meant becoming the character, experiencing their awkwardness. But the thought of having to portray the awkwardness of sharing a husband was… awkward.
Empathy meant recalling your own most embarrassing moments and using those emotions. For Mi Hongdou, her most embarrassing moment, in both lifetimes, was probably the bathroom incident a few days ago. She couldn’t think about it during filming without blushing. As for Ji Junxin… it was also that scene, but instead of blushing, she would probably feel a surge of heat.
So, for this pervasive awkwardness in the palace scenes, they couldn’t use immersion or empathy, they could only rely on their acting skills. Fortunately, they were both talented and experienced, and although their performance didn’t quite reach Director Pan’s vision of “perfect awkwardness,” it was still quite good.
Time passed quickly. Another month, and the palace scenes, without many of Jiang Duo’s scenes, progressed smoothly. “Imperial Secrets,” originally scheduled to wrap up at the end of April, was now nearing completion in mid-March.
No longer needing to act awkward, Mi Hongdou was relieved. But the thought of no longer sharing a room with Ji Junxin after filming ended filled her with a sense of loss.
So, as filming drew to a close, Mi Hongdou spent even more time preparing food and drinks for Ji Junxin, not just their daily meals, but also various fruit teas and snacks.
Although Jiang Lingling also enjoyed these treats, they weren’t made for her. So, the poor single dog’s desire for a relationship intensified. It was April, she had to find someone before Singles’ Day.
But finding a partner wasn’t that easy. Jiang Lingling, often staring wistfully at the snacks from Mi Hongdou, earned many sympathetic glances from Pan Xiang.
Jiang Lingling had also considered whether she had feelings for her favorite author, but it seemed a bit far-fetched. She loved the author’s stories, but it was the writing she loved, not the person. She liked the author, but… love? It didn’t seem that intense.
Unable to figure it out, Jiang Lingling temporarily put the thought aside, continuing to hire people to get the first comment on her stories, still a devoted fan.
After returning to the palace set, Jiang Lingling’s scenes decreased significantly. She could no longer use the excuse of script revisions to torment Jiang Duo, and she was bored. So, she had more time to read, and sometimes, she even managed to get the first comment herself. Getting it herself was more satisfying than having someone else remind her.
Perhaps, without a partner, having this… spiritual anchor, this daily ritual, wasn’t so bad. At least she didn’t feel so lonely.
As filming neared its end, Ji Junxin felt a sense of… a countdown, dreading each passing day, wanting time to slow down. She would soon be alone again. Although she knew they would still be friends after the film, it wouldn’t be the same. Leaving this production, this shared life, things would change. Even if they had the opportunity to work together again, they wouldn’t be living together, sharing every day and night.
Ji Junxin’s sadness couldn’t be dispelled even by Mi Hongdou’s culinary creations.
Just as Ji Junxin was dreading the end of filming, Qiao Rubai, rubbing salt in the wound, sent her a new assistant…
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